Eighth public hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks
Upon the United States

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States held its eighth public hearing on March 23-24, 2004, in Washington, DC. The two-day hearing investigated the formulation and conduct of U.S. counterterrorism policy, with particular emphasis on the period from the August 1998 embassy bombings to September 11, 2001.

The Commission heard from current and former top-level administration officials. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet, and Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage testified, as did former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, former Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, former National Security Adviser Samuel R. Berger, and former National Counterterrorism Coordinator Richard A. Clarke. In addition to witness testimony, four staff statements were delivered during the course of the proceedings.

In announcing the hearing, the Commission's Chair, former New Jersey Governor Thomas H. Kean, said: “A central aspect of our Commission’s mission is counterterrorism policy: what options senior officials considered before September 11, 2001, and what choices they made. This is clearly one of the most important hearings the Commission will hold. We will bring together senior officials responsible for national security policy from the past two administrations, to explain how they handled the most pressing security threat to our country.”

Commission Vice Chair Lee H. Hamilton added: “These hearings will be a historic opportunity to inform our final report, understand how September 11 happened, and help us formulate recommendations to make America safer and more secure.”